The Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC or DR Congo) has continued to spread. There are now over 1,000 confirmed cases, 254 deaths, and health officials see no end in sight right now.
Health officials have said that tracking and tracing those who have been in contact with infected individuals remains a major challenge, accoridng to AP News.
A total of 100 people have recovered in the outbreak concentrated in the Ituri province since it was declared on May 15th, Congo’s Ministry of Health said Sunday. At least 365 patients are in hospitals or in isolation, it said. That number pales in comparison to the number of people who have died, however.
Complicating the issue is the strain of the virus infecting people. This Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no vaccines or treatment, was the worst ever in its first month. Officials admit there could be far more cases they still don’t know about, and that the peak of the outbreak is still ahead.
“If you want to control an outbreak, especially Ebola outbreak, you must know the index case. We don’t have confidence on when this outbreak started,” the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya told The Associated Press last week.
Furthermore, the Africa CDC says that, based on the unknown factors, this outbreak could be the worst Ebola outbreak in its history.
Africa CDC Says This Could Be The WORST Ebola Outbreak In History
In spite of their efforts, officials have yet to identify the patient zero and trace more than 35,000 people who have come in contact with infected individuals as of last week, authorities said. Part of the reason is cultural, as many people have taken to “hiding” from health authorities over fears of being quarantined and removed from contact with their loved ones.
“People Are Hiding” During Ebola Outbreak, Making Containment Difficult
Another issue is that eastern Congo is also battling ongoing violence from rebels. In Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, attacks by the Islamic State group-backed Allied Democratic Force have cut off access to many villages and forced people to flee their homes, including those sheltering in overcrowded camps and others constantly on the move. Estimates vary, but up to 8 million people could be displaced due to the violence.
The Ebola Outbreak is More Concerning Than The Hantavirus
This story continues to develop, but so far, health officials at the CDC claim that the risk to the citizens of the US is still very low.